A nine-pack of dashes faced the gate during the Sunday afternoon (December 4) program of live harness racing at Truro Raceway and three things came to the fore. One: Surrealist wouldn’t be denied again. Two: Given clear track, a freshman would break his maiden. Three: Never disregard the longest shot on the board.
After having recently seen his 13-race win streak snapped, Surrealist returned to his form. The 10-year-old Modern Art gelding started from the outside Post 5 in Race 8, which featured a purse of $1,475. Driven by his trainer, Paul Langille, Surrealist raced second over early, but was right up in the action at the three quarters, as he was double parked in second. After having been just a nose short of the leader at the head of the lane, Surrealist brought the fight in the stretch, as he rolled up his sleeves and got up for a one-length victory in 2:01. The dash took place over a ‘good’ track that was rated two seconds slow. His Boy Elroy (driven by Bernard McCallum) cut the fractions (:29.3, 1:00.2, 1:30.3) and held on for second. Desire Dorleans (Todd Trites) was in the mix for the first three quarters of the tilt, but faded a tad in the lane and finished third, three and a half lengths in arrears of the victor. Surrealist notched his 54th career win via the victory and pushed his overall bankroll to $276,981. He has now won 19 of 29 races this year for owner Dana Getto.
Freshman Western Paradise colt Saulsbrook Deputy first qualified in mid November before racing in a pair of conditioned maidens over Truro. The bay had suffered interference in both of his pari-mutuel dashes prior to Sunday. His connections were probably looking for some better luck – and they got it. The homebred of Mike Brealey and Saulsbrook Stables Inc. erased an early 11-length deficit in Race 1, was three-wide and closing at the three quarters, and got up just enough to record a one and a quarter-length win in 2:05. The track was also ‘good’ and two seconds slow for the race for trainer William McNeil and driver Carl Isenor.
The punters that took a look at Race 6 gave no love to 10-year-old Western Hanover gelding Four Starz Hold Em, and he may have just taken it personally. Todd Trites sent the Don Ellis trainee straight to the point from Post 7 and the duo thrived on the engine. They laid down the speed in :29.2, :59.3 and 1:29.4 before nailing the wire in 2:01 – again, over a ‘good’ track that was two seconds slow. He wasn’t a huge bomb on the board, but those that backed Four Starz Hold Em got a nice $46 win mutuel.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Truro, click the following link: Sunday Results – Truro Raceway.